The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The ultimate italian coachbuilder site
The Renault 4CV Jolly: the beach version built by Carrozzeria Ghia.
The Renault 4CV Jolly is one of the most iconic custom cars derived from the 4CV model, celebrated for its unique design and limited production run. Crafted by the renowned Italian coachbuilder Ghia, only 50 examples of this distinctive beach car were produced, each built on consecutively serial numbered 4CV chassis. The Renault 4CV Jolly was specifically designed for the American market and drew inspiration from similar models such as the Fiat 600 and 500 Jolly. The story of the 4CV Jolly began with Ghia’s interest in a project originally conceived by Maurice Mestivier and Roger Lepeytre of Autobleu, specialists in car accessories. Their vision was to create an elegant coupé, leading them to collaborate with Ghia for its realization. However, due to production challenges, Autobleu decided to turn to Henri Chapron, a distinguished French coachbuilder, to bring their design to life. Despite this shift in production, Ghia was still responsible for crafting two cabriolet versions of the 4CV based on the initial concept. Today, the Renault 4CV Jolly is a rare and highly sought-after collectible. It is believed that approximately a dozen examples of this beach car still exist, making it a prized possession among enthusiasts and collectors. Its blend of style, limited production, and historical significance solidifies the 4CV Jolly’s place as a cherished piece of automotive history, exemplifying the innovative spirit of mid-20th-century car design.
The birth of the Spiaggina (Spiaggia = Beach) takes place in the immediate post-war period at the initiative of some Italian coachbuilders which transformed small mass production cars in order to make them suitable for the needs of wealthy customers during the holiday period in the seaside resorts.
Read part 1 The revolution by Savonuzzi The succession of prototypes made on behalf of Chrysler undoubtedly influenced the 1951 project by Piero Dusio,…
